Also known as Salaryman Cho Han Ji Composer(s) Kim Ji-soo | Directed by Yoo In-shik | |
Genre ComedyThrillerRomance Written by Jang Young-chulJung Kyung-soon Starring Lee Beom-sooJung Ryeo-wonJung Gyu-woonHong Soo-hyun | ||
History of a Salaryman (Hangul: 샐러리맨 초한지; RR: Selreorimaen Chohanji; lit. "Salaryman Cho Han Ji") is a 2012 South Korean television series that aired on SBS from January 2 to March 31, 2012 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 22 episodes. Starring Lee Beom-soo, Jung Ryeo-won, Jung Gyu-woon, Hong Soo-hyun, Lee Deok-hwa, and Kim Seo-hyung, the series is a quirky comedy and murder mystery about an ordinary salaryman who finds himself involved with corporate spies and rival pharmaceutical companies. It satirizes the historical events during China's Chu–Han Contention (206-202 B.C.) to become a parody of modern office politics.
Contents
Plot
Yoo-bang (Lee Beom-soo) sneaks into a villa at night and discovers the dead body of Chunha Medical Group executive Ho-hae (Park Sang-myun). His niece Yeo-chi (Jung Ryeo-won) is hiding in the room. At the funeral, both Yoo-bang and Yeo-chi get arrested for murder. How did things come to this? It all began three months ago when Chunha began trial testing for their new medicine. In exchange for a job recommendation from Ho-hae, Yoo-bang agrees to join the trial testing and steal information about the drug. Rival company director Hang-woo (Jung Gyu-woon) is also there undercover to find out about the new drug. Spoiled rich girl Yeo-chi is undergoing training because her grandfather wants her to inherit Chunha one day, though she herself is completely uninterested. For the trial testing, 30 testers, including Yoo-bang and Hang-woo, are shut off from the outside world for 10 days. During the trial period, strange things begin to happen...
Hero of the series who is a bright and optimistic man. He steals the heart of Yeo-chi. His historical analogue is Liu Bang, the first emperor of Han Dynasty.A spoiled rich girl who was raised by her grandfather after her parents' death. Her historical analogue is Empress Lü Zhi.Antagonist of the series. He tries to get revenge against Chairman Jin for his father's suicide. His historical analogue is Xiang Yu, the king of Western Chu.A woman who was engaged to Hang-woo, and whom Yoo-bang has a crush on. In an earlier draft of the script, Woo-hee dies after reuniting with Hang-woo, but the script was modified to give fans a happier ending. Her historical analogue is Consort Yu.She worked as the secretary for Jin Si-hwang, whom she later kills to become the company chairman herself. She manipulates people to do her bidding, among them her colleague Park Bum-jung, who sincerely loved her. In the end she goes insane after she is found guilty for conspiring to kill Jin and the attempted murder of Woo-hee.Soundtrack
- 성냥팔이 소녀 (Little Match Girl) - Yoon Gun feat. Misty
- 너 때문에 (For You) - JeA (Brown Eyed Girls)
- Bravo - Lee Teuk (Super Junior), Key (SHINee)
- 기대했단 말야 (Not What I Expected) - JOO
- 샐러리맨 초한지 Title
- 막무가내
- Relax Your Mind
- 긴 여정
- Determination
- 자중지란
- 군웅할거
- 방이 Theme
- 천년지애
- 낙장불입
- 샐러리맨 초한지 Score Title
- 도원결의
- 비육지탄
Episode ratings
Sources: TNmS Media Korea, AGB Nielsen Korea